“What is it about Abu Bakr that he is given such preference in that no one else among them (the companions) is mentioned along with him?” He replied, “Because he was the best of them in Islaam as soon as he accepted Islaam and he continued that way until Allaah took him.”

It is narrated from Hisham bin ‘Urwah that his father said: “Aishah said to me: ‘O ‘Urwah, your two fathers were those who answered (the call) of Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad) after being wounded,” (they were) Abu Bakr and Zubair.”

“There was not born to Adam among his descendants anyone better than Abu Bakr, after the Prophets and Messengers. Abu bakr took a stance in the days of Apostasy which was like the stance of one of the Prophets.”